Ayurvedic Medicine: An Ancient Treatment for Modern Times

Ayurveda is an Indian medicine system that focuses on balancing all aspects of a person's being.

    Thousands of years ago, healers on the Indian subcontinent began to develop the seeds of ayurvedic medicine, or ayurveda. Meaning "science of life," this alternative medicine system includes many tools and techniques, such as healing with herbs and changing diet or lifestyle, to bring your body and health back into balance.

Ayurvedic Medicine: The Components

    In India, nearly 80 percent of people still use ayurvedic medicine alone or in combination with conventional Western medicine. According to the recent National Health Interview Survey, about 200,000 U.S. adults use ayurvedic medicine. With more than 600 herbal formulas and 250 plant remedies, ayurvedic medicine includes a large pharmacy of treatment options.

Ayurvedic medicine is based on several core principles:

• Constitution. Ayurvedic medicine practitioners are trained to understand your body’s constitution, or "prakriti," a term which refers to your ability to maintain your general health. This is influenced by processes such as digestion and waste disposal.
• Interconnectedness. Our bodies, our health, and our environment are profoundly interconnected. Disease and symptoms of illness are rooted in a lack of internal and external harmony.
• Life forces. There are three life forces, called "doshas," which affect your body and health. Ayurvedic medicine links each "dosha" to certain physical systems and to elements that might put that system out of balance. For example, one of the "doshas," known as "kappa dosha," is linked to strength and immunity. "Kappa dosha" can get out of whack if you eat too many sweet foods. Your health and well-being are affected based on how well these life forces are balanced.

As a comprehensive alternative medicine system, ayurvedic medicine can be applied to all illnesses and physical complaints.

Ayurvedic Medicine: The Treatment

    An ayurvedic medicine practitioner will want to know not just about your symptoms but about all aspects of your lifestyle, including your diet, sleep habits, recent illnesses, and general ability to heal from illnesses. A practitioner will also give you a physical and may collect urine or stool samples as part of the medical exam.

    Treatment focuses on bringing your body and being back into balance and may include cleansing or detoxifying, treating symptoms, improving disease resistance, and increasing harmony in your life. Treatments include:

• Deep breathing exercises
• Massage
• Plant-based remedies or herbal remedies (which may include traces of metals, gems, and minerals — called "rasa shastra" products)
• Dietary changes
• Vitamins
• Stress and anxiety management

    Ayurvedic medicine includes tonics and herbal remedies made from ancient recipes. These treatments have the potential to be toxic, especially if they are manufactured by less reputable sources. A recent analysis of 193 ayurvedic products available online showed that about one in five contained toxic levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic. Those that were identified as rasa shastra remedies were most likely to contain toxic levels. In contrast, those that stated they were made in accordance with the standards of the American Herbal Products Association were less likely to be toxic.

Ayurvedic Medicine: The Research

    Most studies of ayurvedic medicine are small and results are inconsistent. It may be possible to find research about the specific technique recommended by an ayurvedic practitioner. For example, research supports the use of massage to treat some conditions. Here is a sample of research results:

• In a recent lab study, Indian researchers found evidence that the ayurvedic medicine triphala is successful in fighting certain types of bacteria. It can be challenging to study the effects of all ayurvedic medicines because ayurveda relies on over 700 medicinal plants.
• A recent study found that Withaferin A, a compound made from Indian winter cherry (Withania somnifera), may help control the spread of certain cancerous breast cells.
• Other studies have shown that spices such as ginger, saffron, and turmeric, which are heavily used in ayurvedic medicine, may be helpful for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Evidence suggests that certain herbal remedies may be helpful in managing diabetes.

Ayurvedic Medicine: The Practitioners

    There is no national standard for training to be an ayurvedic practitioner. India has a large number of schools in which people train for five years or more to be ayurvedic practitioners. You should always ask about the training and experience of any person who claims to be an ayurvedic practitioner.